Houston Autumn Bucket List: The Review

Autumn Bucket List: Houston: The Review

I had quite an aggressive schedule planned for us this fall. Unfortunately, Marvin's schedule at at work turned to chaos, and we were not able to do many of the activities on our fall bucket list.

Keep Reading to SEE the Reviews for OUR AUTUMN BUCKET LIST FOR HOUSTON, TX.

Houston Ballet's The Nutcracker

WATCH A TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS BALLET.

In November, we were captivated by the Houston Ballet's rendition of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker Suite at Brown Theatre at the Wortham Center in Houston's theatre district.

The performers were amazingly talented, the costumes stunning, and the story a classic. Highlights of the night, for me, included the charming persona of Clara, the costumes of the Danish Shepherdess and the flowers, the most adorable little bumble bees I've ever seen, the rapturous dancing of the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Nutcracker Prince, and the artistry of the celebration of sweets from around the world.

The whole performance was completely enchanting. Highly recommend! 

Location: 501 Texas Ave, Houston, TX 77002

Bed Races at Dickens on the Strand

DICKENS ON THE STRAND

We love Galveston, and we especially love that it's a quick, easy drive from Houston. The Victorian world of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol comes alive in downtown Galveston every December with a lively festival full of food, carolers, stage performances, jugglers, parades, and vendors. As a huge Dickens fan, this is a dream come true!

We had the pleasure of visiting all the vendor booths and watching the bed races, a race that takes place in the street with teams of racers pushing one of their team members down the street on, yes,  Victorian beds. It was quite the spectacle and loads of fun!

A Christmas Carol at Alley Theatre

SPEAKING OF A CHRISTMAS CAROL...

We've now had the great pleasure of attending both The Three Musketeers this summer and Dickens' A Christmas Carol this fall at the Alley Theatre. With 87 costumes, including 27 wigs and 11 pairs of sideburns, the Alley Theatre pulls no punches when bringing Dickens' characters to life. The Alley Theatre's rendition of this timeless classic was unique and a bit macabre, but followed the story in an artful way that we thoroughly enjoyed.

SEE THE Christmas LIGHTS.

We had originally planned to drive through River Oaks as we do every year to see the stately mansions covered in lights and Christmas decorations. But this year we decided to stay closer to home. For 13 years, 24603 Stoughton Court in the Pin Oak Village Subdivision of Katy puts on a light show to beat all light shows. With a lights display timed to music - 17 songs in all - plus 10-foot tall nutcrackers and giant candy canes and snowflakes galore, this display has absolutely earned its reputation in the community.

Christmas Village at Bayou Bend

CHRISTMAS VILLAGE AT BAYOU BEND.

Hosted by the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Christmas Village at Bayou Bend takes place every December. Complete with a 15-foot Christmas tree, model train, carolers, and thousands of sparkling lights, the former estate of Ima Hogg turns into a merry Christmas village.

Although there are a number of things I would do differently if I ran it, Christmas Village is definitely worth a visit. We thoroughly enjoyed the live Christmas music under the canopy, the huge model train village set up around the giant Christmas tree, "Santa's reindeer" scattered around the grounds, and the marvelous displays of Christmas lights throughout the gardens. The personnel at Bayou Bend were all just as sweet as sweet could be. Though the optional tour of the house includes only the ground floor, we loved the displays and the stories about the house and about Miss Hogg.

---

This fall was fantastic - full of entertainment and relaxation as we played tourists in our home city!